State Briefs

Published: February 22, 2013 3:00 AM

BROOK PARK -- Ford said it will start making a turborcharged four-cylinder engine in Cleveland to keep up with growing demand in the U.S.

The automaker will invest $200 million in its engine plant in Brook Park, near Cleveland, and add 450 jobs starting next year.

[Article continues below]

With the new jobs, Ford will be at the halfway point of its plans to hire 12,000 more hourly workers in the U.S. by 2015.

Ford is offering the 2-Liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in more models, and demand for the engines is growing.

Ford now imports the motors from a plant in Spain. The move allows it to unload expensive shipping costs.

Waynesville landlord whipped

[Article continues below]

tenant who was late on rent

WAYNESVILLE -- An Ohio landlord is accused of whipping a tenant with a belt on his bare buttocks for falling behind on his rent.

Police in the village of Waynesville say 53-year-old Ron Kronenberger was charged with assault for the Jan. 22 encounter in his office. He was due in court Thursday in Warren County.

Police say Kronenberger told the 29-year-old tenant that if he was going to act like a child, he would treat him like one. He then allegedly hit him four times with a belt, leaving small marks.

Police say the tenant told them he was scared and just wanted to get it over with.

The Dayton Daily News reported Kronenberger is a former chamber of commerce president.

Ohio nun is suspected

of illegally casting ballot

CINCINNATI -- Election officials said a nun in southwest Ohio is suspected of illegally casting a ballot for another nun who had died before last November's election.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported a ballot in the name of a nun who died in October was returned to the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Cincinnati. A board member says an investigation showed it may have been cast by another nun.